Jabarkhet-Kolti Nala-Landour Cemetery

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Geological Significance · Spring · Wildflowers

Access to this trail is open, as it is used by local villagers and Irrigation Department personnel. There is no parking fee at the start of the trail, but parking is discouraged around Landour Cemetery as this is a public thoroughfare. There is paid parking at Char Dukaan, about 1.5 kilometres away.

There are cafes with restrooms around Landour.

Please practice Leave No Trace principles while hiking this trail.
Water is limited on this trail, except at the stream, where it will need to be purified. Hiking this trail in summer is not advisable, as it gets very hot.

This is a regular village trail, often used by milkmen from Kolti Village, to access the markets at Landour/Mussoorie and Jabarkhet/Bataghat. The trail starts at Jabarkhet village and descends gently along a narrow to moderately wide path to just above Kolti Village. From here a path descends further to the village.

Bypassing the village, the trail contours and climbs slightly past an Irrigation Department pumping station, to a bridge across the spring-fed Kolti Nala stream. The stream is usually in full flow only during the monsoon (July-October). From here, the trail climbs steeply via a series of switchbacks and emerges at Landour Cemetery. This part of the trail follows the water supply pipeline, via two pumphouses.

The trail surface varies from packed mud to loose stony and scree sections. Some steeper sections have slippery pine needles. Most of the trail has a gentle gradient, but there are some steep ascents and descents.

Sturdy boots and hiking poles are highly recommended. Water is not available on this trail, except at the stream, where it needs to be purified.

The initial part of the trail passes through Deodar cedar and mixed Oak-Rhododendron forests with Hill Toon and Kaphal trees. The lower part of the trail is lined by Chir Pine forest. The area around Kolti Nala is densely forested with broad-leaved deciduous species. The climb to Landour Cemetery passes through this forest, before climbing through Chir Pine forest. The upper part of this section has Deodar cedars. The trail is lined with shrubs of Rubus sp., Berberis sp. and Urtica sp. Seasonal wildlflowers may be found, and are most abundant during the monsoon and post-monsoon.